As the parent of a new reader, I’m always on the lookout for great literacy resources. Tell parents about the resources that follow and try them in your own classroom—they’re sure to spark enthusiasm for reading!

The National Center for Family Literacy has paired up with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to provide games, puzzles, and recommended reading lists to teach literacy and history. Students can sit at a virtual lunch counter to learn about civil rights or explore a virtual town to learn facts about the flag. It’s all at www.famlit.org/activities.

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Students in grades K and up are invited to enter this contest from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org. There are new challenges each month through June 2010; this month’s challenges focus on authors Kate DiCamillo, author of The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn-Dixie, and Katherine Paterson, author of Lyddie. You’ll find lots more at the site too, including author bios, video interviews, and ideas for helping struggling readers. Click here now to check it out!

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Flat Stanley is ready for his next adventure! At www.FlatStanleyBooks.com/AdventuresbyDisney, students ages 7 to 12 are invited to create their own Flat Stanley adventures. Students choose a continent, print an activity pack, and get writing! Then they can enter their creations in a contest for a chance to win a family vacation. Hurry—the contest ends November 30, 2009!

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Just for fun, let me know where you think Flat Stanley should visit. Congratulations to Linda, who won a prize pack of books to help her show her students the world!

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Children’s books are being reinvented these days. Classics become movies, they get their own websites, and, in the process, they inspire even more readers. Here are tips about new resources available for two favorite children’s books:

The movie version of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox opens nationwide this month! Three lucky Learning readers will win a prize pack, which includes a movie poster, a copy of the book, a version of the book for younger readers, a sticker book, and the movie soundtrack. Hurry, the contest ends on Friday, November 20! To enter, click here now to go to the Learning homepage; then click on the Fantastic Mr. Fox info on the right.

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Celebrate the 25th anniversary of a holiday classic, The Polar Express. At www.polarexpress.com, you’ll find ideas for using the book across the curriculum, games, and discussion guides for all of Chris Van Allsburg’s books. Plus, each day in December a special 25 Days of Polar Express Christmas Countdown Calendar will feature a new activity, recipe, game, or contest. What a fun addition for the holiday season!

What’s your favorite movie based on a children’s book? Post a comment on our blog by Monday, November 23, to win a prize pack of new children’s books! (Update: Congratulations to Leah. Her prize pack of books is on the way!)

Enjoy!

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Looking for a few more top literature picks? Here are favorites from Learning magazine’s children’s book expert, Kim Minafo.

Post a comment on our blog by Tuesday, November 10, to be entered in our next drawing. One lucky teacher will win a copy of The Longest Night by Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer. Congratulations to Eliza, who won last week’s drawing! (Update: Just drew this week’s winner. Congratulations, Annette! Thanks to all who posted comments!)

Stick Man By Julia Donaldson Happily residing in his family tree with his three stick children, Stick Man is content—until a boy and his dog decide to play fetch. Traveling from the river to the beach, the stick soon finds himself stuck atop a pile of firewood. Will his future go up in smoke? Grades K–3, $16.99. Arthur A. Levine Books.

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Mudshark By Gary Paulsen He’s smart. He’s savvy. And the 12-year-old Mudshark (aka Lyle Williams) just might be resourceful enough to save the school from a psychic parrot, a thief who steals erasers, and toxic waste that threatens to overtake the faculty restroom. Grades 3–6, $12.99. Wendy Lamb Books.

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The Longest Night By Marion Dane Bauer In the frigid stillness of winter, several forest animals boast of their ability to force the sun to return. A crow plans to poke the sun until it wakes, and a fox claims to have teeth sharp enough to grab the sun and toss it back into the sky. But, in the end, a tiny chickadee’s gentle song melts the frosty darkness of winter. Grades K–3, $17.95. Holiday House. (Annette, let us know your thoughts once you receive this book!)

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The Magician’s Elephant By Kate DiCamillo When Peter dares to ask a fortune-teller whether his sister is alive, he is torn between accepting her answer and trusting what he has always been told—that his sister died at birth. Should he believe the mystic’s vision that an elephant will lead him to his sister? Before Peter has a chance to decide, an elephant magically crashes through the ceiling of the opera house, setting off a remarkable chain of events. Grades 4 and up, $16.99. Candlewick Press.

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Intrigued? Want to know more about these great books? Don’t forget to post your comment on our blog for a chance to WIN!

PS: The fall issue of Learning magazine features 120 prizes (yep, you read that right!) to WIN. Click here now to enter our contests today!

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